Market Scope’s latest 2025 Glaucoma Pharmaceuticals Market Report reveals divergent growth trajectories between developing and developed regions and highlights shifting trends in global glaucoma drug usage.

According to the report, 5-year compound annual revenue growth rates are forecasted to range from flat in Japan—influenced by a shrinking elderly population—to 7.4% in emerging markets. Despite faster percentage growth in developing countries, the United States and Western Europe are projected to account for the largest absolute gains in market value because of their established infrastructure and higher per-capita drug expenditure.

Generic drugs have become a dominant force in the glaucoma pharmaceutical landscape. As of 2024, generics represent more than80% of prostaglandin analog units in the United States as well as more than 40% of total global glaucoma pharmaceutical revenue. This latter proportion is up from 37% in 2022. This growth in generics is driven by cost-containment efforts across both public and private health care systems. High-profile patent expirations, including Pfizer’s Xalatan, have further eroded revenues from branded drugs. In response to concerns about generic drug quality—especially in emerging markets—branded generics have gained popularity. These formulations, while off-patent, are backed by brand names and can offer enhanced features such as preservative-free delivery. Companies are capitalizing on this trend by offering premium-priced branded generics that attract patients who are willing to pay for perceived improvements in safety and tolerability.

Prostaglandin analogs and prostamides remain the first-line treatment for glaucoma in most developed countries. However, their revenue potential is increasingly capped by the rise of generics and a shift in clinical practice toward surgical and sustained-release options that may lessen reliance on topical therapies, the report said. GP